Bring your favorite beverage and paint along with artist Bunni Miller as she shows you step-by-step instructions on completing your very own art masterpiece that you take home at the end of the evening. Register now to attend our "instant artist" painting party and find your inner painter! No experience required. See the schedule for the painting of the week.

SOS Security Blanket | April 22nd - May 29th, 2011

Mercedes Rodgers

As a community organizer and Florida resident, artist Mercedes Rodgers has found a way to give a voice to people who are still dealing with the effects of the disastrous Gulf Oil spill. Her SOS Security Blanket is a conceptual quilt made entirely of petroleum-based products. The blanket is a symbolic representation of the naive way in which we have been hiding from the true costs of our dependence on petroleum, much in the way a child would hide under a favorite blanket.

One year after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, Mercedes Rodgers has collected over 300 individual blanket squares created by concerned artists and individuals from around the country. This community art piece is not only visually striking, it is a call for change from many voices. Her mission is to have people from all over the world who have concerns about our dependence on fossil fuels participate by making and contributing their squares to the project. The assembled squares create a visual petition for better energy policies and a more sustainable future. By creating a square, anyone who feels hopeless, vulnerable or angry will be able to use art to express their frustration and be part of a unified call for change. Bringing together all of our angst, fear, and feelings of helplessness into one large project will create a strong visual message and help remind people about the hazards of off-shore drilling and unsustainable energy practices.

Rodgers is inviting anyone who has something to say about the Gulf oil spill (or other man-made disasters) to design a square for the SOS Blanket using old shower curtains, grocery store bags, construction plastic or any other recycled petroleum-based plastic. During the exhibition there will be a workstation set up with materials for people to make squares. Artists working in any medium, from writers, to painters to crafts people, may contribute squares by making them at the reception, or by mailing them to the gallery. See the SOS Security blanket main page for more details.

FREE TASTINGS OF

CRAFT BEERS & WINE

@Beach Liquors Every Friday

At The Paradise Plaza next to Brooks Bridge

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548 -

(850) 244-8191

Garry James Bottleneck Blues

Friday & Saturday @ Fokker's Pub

James is a guitarist, singer, and harmonica blower of tremendous force, as his readings of both blues classics and more contemporary singer-songwriter material like Neil Young’s “Hey Hey My My (Out of the Blue)” demonstrate. He doesn’t work from a set list, but he will do songs the crowds want to hear—in his own style

Children rising second through fifth grade are invited to join Nonie to learn about Exotic Creatures, Backyard Wildlife and Stewardship. Workshops will be from 1-4pm on Fridays, June 3 (Reptiles & amphibians), June 17 (Bats), June 24 (Rainforest), July 1 (Birds), July 8 (Mammals), July 15 (Bugs & Spiders) and July 29 (Endangered Species). Build crafts, explore nature, create snacks, play games & meet live animals! Space is limited & cost is $20.00 per child per workshop paid in advance to secure reservation. For more information, contact nonie@noniesark.com 850.862.9588 or to sign up geninfo@ecscience.org , 850.664.1261, or use the online form below.

The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center (HPCC) invite you to be a part of “Hometown History Saturdays.” On the first Saturday of each month the museums of HPCC especially welcome locals. Visitors who can show a driver’s license with a Fort Walton Beach address will receive admission at a reduced rate of $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children.

The museums of HPCC include the Indian Temple Mound Museum (open Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:30pm); the Camp Walton Schoolhouse and the Garnier Post Office Museums (open Saturdays from 1:00-3:00pm). This reduced admission is paid at the Indian Temple Mound Museum and will allow entrance to all three museums. The reduced rate will not apply to educational programs taking place on Saturdays.

In conjunction with this program, Friends of the Museums, Inc. will have a drawing to award an honorary Friends membership each month. Friends of the Museums provide financial and volunteer commitment in support of programming and operations at HPCC. Benefits of membership include advanced invitations to programs and activities, museum store discounts and reduced museum admission rates.

Heritage Park and Cultural Center is located at 139 SE Miracle Strip Parkway and is open 6 days a week. For current hours or additional information please contact museum staff at 850.833.9595.

Be sure and stop by to check out their new location!

Carolina Cigars is expanding! We have a great new location at 180-1 Miracle Strip Parkway! We will still be offering our fantastic homemade cigars, but the expansion has also made us very excited to offer a cheese & chocolate selection!

315-1010

www.theclosetswap.com

Each and Everyday, you can save Loads of $$ at The Closet Swap, Inc. but on certain days.....YOU can save EVEN MORE!

MONDAY:20% off All Accessories (except shoes)

TUESDAYS: This is my Recycle and Receive Day!

When selling items, if you choose the Store Credit option, you receive and Extra $10.00 in Store Credit.

Hugs and Hissyfits Children's Boutique offers you the best in children's boutique clothing for girls and boys. Clothing by designers such as: Little Mass, Miss Me, Mimi and Maggie,

Bailey Boys, Baby Nay, Aurluz, Kissy Kissy, and Haven Girl. We also offer great infant and child gifts by Mud Pie, Stephen Joseph, Trumpette, and Two's Company. Voted "Best Children's Boutique on the Emerald Coast" 7 years in a row. Fabulous new arrivals for spring.

Liz Fashions

Liz Fashions...Where flirty and elegant come together for swimwear, fashion and fun!

Phone: 850-200-4544

184 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE Suite 2
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Liz Fashions is pleased to offer you a wonderful selection of ladies swimwear, sportswear and accessories.

Store hours will be 10:00 -5:30.

Closed on Sundays & Mondays

About Liz

Elizabeth (Liz) Jones, Owner, has always wanted to open a store downtown in Fort Walton Beach. She just couldn't pass up the recent opportunity to open her new store in a town she truly loves. Liz is no stranger to retail and has two other stores in Seagrove Beach (Liz Fashions & Bummin' the Sun).

You will always be welcomed with a smile!

Thursday - Ladies Night

Saturday $.25 Draft Beer 4:30-6:30pm

Every Tuesday Night Run

Come join us on Tuesday nights at 6pm for a run or walk (you pick your pace).We have a 3.1 or 6.2 mile route or anything in between. We follow the Brooks Street race course its flat and lighted. Come out and meet a great group of fellow runners and walkers.

A Free night for the ladies featuring fitness, wine, food, special discounts and fun!

The Downtown Merchants of Historic Fort Walton Beach, Florida invite you every 3rd Friday to “Downtown Art Walk” to view local works of art at participating stores and enjoy live music from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Complimentary beverages and hors d’ oeuvres are served by most merchants. For more information, contact Tara Wesley at: theclosetswap@gmail.com , The Closet Swap, 222A Miracle Strip Parkway 850-226-7763.

Bring a friend and a bottle of wine. Relax and try your hand at pottery- no experience necessary. Everybody gets the chance to make at least one pot!

Sip and spin is a fun time to socialize and see if pottery is something you are really interested in.

Pottery is a multiple step project. You will create a piece or two during your first session. To complete the project you will need to sign up for another session to glaze your work. You can finish your piece by signing up for another Sip & Spin session, or by registering for Personalized Study in Clay.

Big City American Bistro- Thursday we offer a 10% discount to all active Military, Fire & EMT!!! And as always we offer our daily Soup & Salad Buffet...2 Soups, 3 Deli Salads, Spring Mix Salad and Fresh Bread all for only $5.95! Now thats a Deal!

The Closet Swap - 15% off on Tuesdays

Fluid Surf Shop- Military 10% off everything except boards everyday!

Fokker’s Sports Pub- 10% off FOOD to military all the time when they present ID – 244-6666